SKM

Author: admin

  • Career Options for B.Tech. Students

    Career Options for B.Tech. Students

    We are living in an era where everything is driven by technology. A career which lets you contribute and be a part of this technological revolution seems to be the most exciting option. With this thought, a lot of students choose the stream of Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) to progress their career. However, as soon as the last semester approaches, a question starts popping up in their minds, “What after B.Tech?”

    To help you find a suitable answer to this question, here is a list of best career options you can choose after B.Tech.

    Campus Recruitment

    If you do not intend to go ahead with further studies, you can choose this option. Prepare yourself for the interviews and assessments and get a job available in the campus. With good academic records and above average performance in the semester exams and assessments, you can land on a well-paying job.

    Every year a lot of renowned brands hire engineering graduates from campus with decent pay packages and the trend seems to be on the rise.

    Study M.Tech.

    This option is for you if you plan to go further to become a master in the field of technology. It adds up to your academic depth and lets you stand out with strong potential to contribute more to the industry.

    To pursue M.Tech course in the top engineering institutes of India, the undergraduate students need to qualify Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). There are also private colleges who offer M.Tech. studies and have their own selection process.

    Civil Services

    It is one of the most sought-after careers in India. If you want to be a part of the government system then you can start preparing for the civil services examination. It’s a hard nut to crack as the competition is very tough. But you can surely succeed with focus and hard work.

    If you wish to proceed in the administrative stream then go for IAS and if you are interested in engineering services then go for IES.

    MBA

    This option is for people who are inclined towards the business side of the industry. Almost every organization looks for people with business administration skillsets. This makes MBA one of the most lucrative career options out there.

    If you are more interested in corporate roles and aspire to climb up the managerial ladder then MBA is the ideal path for you.

    Defence Services

    Joining the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force is not just a career option but a lifestyle dedicated to protecting your country. If you dream to have the honour to serve your country then you must go ahead on this path. Start preparing for University Entry Scheme (UES), TGC (Engineers), and Short Service Commission (Technical) exams.

    Entrepreneurship

    Starting a venture of your own is a great option if you have an entrepreneurial mindset. But it has great challenges too. Being an entrepreneur you will have the independence to create something of your own. Lots of hard work, tenacity and consistent focus is what you need to succeed.

    Short-term Professional Course

    If you could not manage to get a campus placement, but you want a rewarding job, then there are many short-term professional courses to choose from.

    Courses like PHP Training, App Development, Web Designing, Digital Marketing, etc. will equip you with the high demand skillset in a short period of time. In this digitally evolving era, such courses will not only help to you get a better job but also build a rewarding career.

    Deciding on what stream to choose to progress your career is never easy and that’s why we are here to help you.

    You can talk to us and find out what’s best fit for you. We offer a wide range of Job Oriented Courses to choose from.

    All the best!

  • 5 Biggest Benefits of Short-term Professional Courses

    5 Biggest Benefits of Short-term Professional Courses

    In a world which is evolving at a rapid pace, new territories of knowledge are being discovered every day, one cannot afford to stop learning. What was ‘a lot of information’ for yesterday might be ‘too little’ for tomorrow. No one wants to lag behind in terms of knowledge and expertise. It is the reason why Short-term Professional Courses are gaining popularity.

    These courses give you the opportunity to upgrade your skills in only a small span of time.

    So let us start with the 5 biggest Benefits of Short-term Professional Courses:

    1. Reap Long-term Benefits

    These courses focus on backing up your knowledge with the relevant skills. They fill out the knowledge gaps you have and help you stay ahead of the curve. Not only does it help you get a rewarding job but a rewarding & fulfilling career.

    2. Enhance your Career

    Sharpening your skills with short-term courses help you get a competitive edge in the workplace. It showcases your willingness to compete, develop and learn. It is something that every employer looks for in its employees. It’s needless to say that it makes you an indispensable resource for any organization.

    3. Grow in your Interest Zone

    There can be something which you are really interested in but never got a chance to do anything with it. Short-term courses help you explore and be really good at things which interests you. These courses are loaded with practical trainings and projects which help you learn by doing and not just reading. For example, there are many people who chose Web Designing course out of interest and now they have made successful careers out of it.

    4. Balance your Lifestyle

    Short-term courses are ideal choices for those who would like to study whilst maintaining their career and income. The flexibility allows them to learn without disrupting their work-life balance. These courses are customized as per your requirements, whether you are a student or a working professional.

    5. Easy on your Pocket

    The Short-term professional courses are relatively cheaper than the full-time courses. This makes it an excellent option for people who cannot invest huge amounts of money but want high quality training and education.

    With the advent and growth of the Digital industry, it has become imperative to keep yourself updated with the latest streams of knowledge. People skilled in the field of App Development, Web Designing, Digital Marketing, etc. are in high demand and the demand is only going up.

    We have a wide range Short-term Job Oriented Courses which are designed to boost your skills and make you a hot shot in the job field.

    So get prepared for your future!

  • Android Development Training – Doorway to a Successful Career

    Android Development Training – Doorway to a Successful Career

    Smartphone-the mobile device launched more than two decades ago is no more humble. In a globalized world, there are millions of Smartphone admirers in every nook and corner of the Earth. In India too, the obsession for the small mobile device is increasing at a fast pace. People fiddling with their Smartphones at the workplace, during traveling, and even during mealtime is a common sight. The usage is not limited to these as exploring social media and juggling with multiple mobile apps is also a norm.

    According to reliable statistics, an approximately 36 percent of Indians will soon have a Smartphone by 2018 and Android rule the roost when it comes to the Indian mobile industry because mobile devices powered by the Android operating system are relatively cheaper than those by IOS. No wonder, there is a soaring demand for skilled android developers who can develop engaging apps to cater to the evolving expectations of mobile users.

    Indians spending a significant time on apps

    Leading app market data insight company-AppAnnie has revealed that app store downloads in India will likely reach 20.1 billion in the next few years (2020). It further stated that amount of time spent by each user on mobile apps in India is about 4 hours on a daily basis. Recently, Google in its annual event in India announced that an approximate one billion apps are downloaded each month by Indians from its play store.
    Certainly a feat!

    Thanks to the all-pervasive social networking apps like the Whatsapp messenger and Facebook apps, Indians are now hooked to their Smartphones like never before. Many android apps like Truecaller, Hotstar, JioTV, and Myntra Online have already become a rage among Android users and thus have opened the door for innovative and engaging apps that can offer a remarkable mobile user experience.

    Businesses are opting for a mobile-first strategy

    Plenty of businesses have hired skilled android developers to have their apps, and among these retail stores rule the roost. An increasing penetration of mobile phones and intensified competition from abroad is leaving them with no choice other than investing in android apps. As you may have noticed, the mobile technology has already disrupted the business models across the world. India too is now following the footsteps of other nations with most businesses now opting for mobile apps instead of going the traditional website route to woo their target customers. It seems feasible for a small business to first have a mobile app, and then to invest in a website development after having a comfortable customer base.

    As an open-source operating system, Android let the businesses as well as individual mobile developers to develop intuitive, powerful and navigable apps at a less cost and a higher return on their investment. In such a scenario, becoming a professional android developer is the best career choice for those who want to earn money straight after stepping from their college campus.

    If you are bewildered that from where you should do an Android development training in Kolkata; learn from the best at Karmick Institute. Our training course is not only limited to graduates but is extended to those also who have completed B.E/ B.Tech/ BCA/ MCA. Our experienced android app developers impart learning with sincerity to enable you to become an android developer within a few months at a modest course fee of 18000 INR.

    Who knows? You may soon strike gold with an innovative app that becomes massively popular or may get hired by a reputed app development company? If these do not happen, still with ample knowledge in android app development and an experience of working on LIVE projects with us, you can earn a decent income. So, no more delay! Reach us at  +91 33 2426 4362 / +91 9836423755.

  • Why Choose PHP As A Career?

    Why Choose PHP As A Career?

    Most young aspirants remain confused when it comes to jobs and career opportunities in the IT field. They are apprehensive about the languages to explore and which platform or framework will offer the brightest prospects for the future.

    Having said that, PHP is one of the fastest growing web development languages right now. It has especially exploded in India where PHP adoption has grown tremendously in the past 4 years. Some of the biggest names on the web have used PHP as a development language.

    Below we discuss in some detail why PHP offers some very bright prospects career-wise to young aspirants.

    PHP as a web development tool

    Right now, the PHP framework is booming as a career option. On a global scale, more than 60% of the websites on offer run on PHP. Some of the biggest names on the internet that are powered by PHP include Yahoo, Myspace, Wikipedia, Digg, and Facebook. For those of us who are looking to adopt web development as their career option, PHP is an excellent choice to learn. Websites across varied domains such as e-commerce, CMS, and CRM are developed using PHP. Almost all business domains use PHP in some form or the other.

    Open Source

    PHP is an open source application. Not only is it free but a large online community constantly tweaking and chipping away at its rough edges mean that there will never be a dearth of expert know-how on how to solve any problem related to PHP. Being a PHP developer allows a developer access to a plethora of open source software such as MySql, Apache, and Linux. The frameworks that come with PHP are also available for free.

    OOPS

    PHP5 introduced Object Oriented Programming. Concepts such as inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism are useful when developing enterprise systems. Applications such as Joomla, Magento, and WordPress are examples of Object Oriented Programming. People with a background in C++ or Java find a lot of ease in using PHP as an Object-Oriented Language.

    Easy to learn

    The PHP syntax very closely resembles Java, C, and Perl. It can be easily learned through practical examples. The internet abounds in resources of high quality where one can gather a lot of information on PHP and how to work with it.

    Framework availability

    The PHP language comprises a large number of frameworks. It is because of these frameworks that PHP is hugely popular among developers. Using a framework has many advantages. First, the development is fast because of the reuse of code. Second, there is a significant reduction in errors owing to the use of the proven and tested code. Some of the commonly used PHP frameworks are Zend, Symfony, CakePHP, Akelos,CodeIgniter, Laravel and Yii.

    Compiler-based applications

    With the help of PHP, we can build Compiler Based Applications. This concept is now deployed by Magento in their e-commerce applications. Applications build in other languages can also be a part of the PHP ecosystem. As an example, many extensions in PHP were built with the help of the language C. PHP encompasses a host of applications such as MySql, HTML, and JS.

    Compatible with a whole host of OS

    PHP works well with UNIX, LINUX, Windows and Mac and interfaces well with MySql and Apache. In short, it can work across most operating systems. With the help of PHP, we can perform cross-platform development. This makes it a cost-effective programming language to use.

    Dynamic and flexible

    Websites and web applications that are built using PHP are extremely secure. It can be easily scaled and is an encrypted language. The websites and the applications refresh all by themselves without the need for manual intervention. Compared to its competitors, PHP is extremely flexible and can be customised to be suited to one’s needs. Since PHP is free, the code can be written with the help of any editors. It can also be combined with different libraries for special effects and graphics.

    Resources

    Whether it be frameworks, documentation tools, editors or dependency managers, PHP has a ready set of quality tools for use. There is documentation that can be found online for any aspect of PHP programming. Since PHP offers a huge number of extensions, the result can be completely customised to meet the clients’ needs.

    CMS development

    Since PHP can be uniquely customised to meet the needs of the customer, it is the preferred framework of development for CMS. Websites that are developed using PHP are faster. PHP can be embedded into HTML. As a result, static websites can be very easily converted to dynamic new ones.

    The demand for quality PHP developers has sky rocketed in the past few years and the trend is only expected to grow in the near future. With the whole world being re-written in code, it’s anybody’s guess how fast and how high the demand for PHP developers will soar. Thus, PHP development provides an excellent career opportunity to young aspirants who want to make their mark in this world.

    Job opportunities

    In order to work in the field of PHP, one needs to usually have a degree in computer science or software engineering. However, if one wishes to work as a freelancer and not with any multinational, these degrees are not mandatory.

    Earning potential as a fresher PHP developer is limited. However, with experience and knowledge, PHP developers can develop very high earning potential.

    Over and above a lucrative career as a developer, an individual with knowledge of PHP and managerial skills can also become a PHP project manager in a reputed company. Project managers earn high salaries and enjoy a comfortable livelihood.

  • Native, Hybrid Or Responsive – Which Is The Right Way Forward?

    Native, Hybrid Or Responsive – Which Is The Right Way Forward?

    Touchscreen devices have revolutionized the way in which we interact with computers. Today, people spend far more time on their mobile devices than they do with their desktops or laptops. This shift in consumer behavior has led to the requirement for mobile-first development and design.

    Before we explore the methods that are being explored today for mobile first solutions, let us first have a look at the history of mobile application development. Previously, companies such as IBM, Blackberry, Palm, Erickson, and Microsoft used to develop proprietary operating systems such as Simon, Windows, Palm OS etc. These applications were inbuilt into the phone’s operating system.

    Others delivered content with the help of built-in mobile browsers. The content was customised for consumption on small screens which would often be of inferior quality.

    Later on, Java applications, especially games, became very prominent. Any devices that supported Java runtime could run these apps. This was the birth of independent app stores.

    Unfortunately, these early applications had a lot of compatibility problems and issues. One of the biggest question plaguing web developers at the time was – how can we display the existing web pages across multiple devices whose screens come in all kinds of shapes or sizes? It would take years for responsive web design to be born.

    Apple released its first iPhone in 2007. A year after that, it began to offer tools to write native applications for its smartphones. These tools also began to become available for sale at online marketplaces such as the Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store.

    Many companies were limited by the capabilities of their operating system. These companies allowed their developers to create applications using browser technology such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. This was the beginning of Hybrid mobile app development.

    Today, there are 3 major ways of developing mobile applications –

    • Responsive web design
    • Native development
    • Hybrid development

    Each of the aforementioned technologies meets specific requirements for any solution and have both advantages as well as disadvantages.

    We will discuss the same in details below.

    Responsive web design

    Screen sizes of smartphones are now big enough to fit in a lot of content. This means that most websites will open and be accessible on these phones. Whenever users access a site, they like to rotate, zoom in and out or navigate and scroll in other ways. Any developer who depends upon the device to deliver these functions smoothly to the user is giving a bad UX to the visitor and it is unlikely that there will be a return visit to the site, especially on the smartphone.

    Fortunately, the solution to these challenges in most cases is to apply styles to the web pages. They can also be corrected by adjusting the layouts and views for mobile devices. This is done by front-end engineers who are proficient at getting any site to display smoothly. Furthermore, existing websites can also be made over so that they become responsive on mobile devices as well.

    The disadvantage of using responsive web design is that the website will be running on a mobile web browser. As such, no native mobile functionality such as location detection, cameras, sensors etc. will be available.

    When should we choose responsive web design?

    • When we need our website to be properly displayed on a mobile device.
    • When we are not in need of any native functionality such as using sensors, taking pictures etc.
    • When we need to display content fast on mobile platforms such as iOS, Windows, Android etc.

    When should we not choose responsive web design?

    When we are in need of native mobile functionality

    Native mobile application development (NMAD)

    Mobile devices have a tremendous potential for revenue generation. In order to access a phone’s fingerprint scanner, camera, GPS or any other features, we need a native application.

    Does this affect development costs? Today, there are mainly 3 ecosystems – Android (Google), Apple and Microsoft. These 3 make up about 99 percent of the total market share. In order to reach out to each ecosystem, we need developers with separate skill sets. For Apple, developers must be proficient in Objective-C or Swift. If we are trying to target Android, developers have to be good with Java. For Microsoft, developers have to be proficient with C# or other Microsoft technologies. It is difficult to find developers who possess knowledge across all these categories.

    The first hurdle to pass, therefore, is to find developers with skill sets that match each of these ecosystems. After that, different code for each platform will have to be written since the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and the Software Development Kits (SDKs) are different from each other. After the submission of the mobile apps in each ecosystem, the latter will come up with different guidelines for UX. Almost all the devices’ features may be accessed in return for an increased development cost.

    If we choose to target anyone ecosystem, it presents its own set of challenges such as fragmentation. With various OS devices and versions, this results in many possibilities on how an application will behave or stop working. Fragmentation stops us from using all the new features of the device.

    When should we use NMAD?

    • When we are targeting only android, Apple and Microsoft users.
    • When we have no plans to reuse resources for other ecosystems.
    • When we need to have access to device functionality that is not on offer by other development methods.
    • When we want the best possible UX for any specific ecosystem such as performance, compatibility, and view etc.

    When should we not use NMAD?

    • When we do not require native functionality.
    • When performance is not an issue.
    • When we do not possess either the time or the budget to develop each ecosystem separately.

    Hybrid Mobile Application Development (HMAD)

    All hybrid frameworks work the same way. Native functionality and native runtime are abstracted away. Then, they are exposed to the upper layer where the application is written. Sometimes, the platform abstracts the top layer even more. This is done so that the frameworks that are being used for desktops can be used. The upper layer can be tackled in several ways.

    One of the most popular methods is to use web technologies such as CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. These kinds of hybrid applications typically have an SPA or a Single Page Application that runs locally. This possesses JavaScript functionality so that mobile native features can be accessed. This approach is used by Ionic, PhoneGap, and Cordova. Since the application runs as a local web page, the performance is impacted.

    Alternatively, we can develop the application through a framework. Then, the application can be compiled to platform-specific elements and implement platform specific parts. The performance is as good as a native application. This is used by Xamarin and React Native.

    In both the cases, the applications are installed, distributed and packed up as native applications.

    With the help of HMAD, we can use the same code base to cater to multiple device ecosystems. Furthermore, any developer who has knowledge of web technologies will be able to work on this. Due to the aforementioned reasons, compared to NMAD, the speed to market and the development costs are reduced significantly.

    However, every phone functionality cannot be mapped into a framework.

    All frameworks allow plugins. Development has to be performed in the native language of the platform. This adds to the expertise and the development effort substantially. Sometimes, this makes the development of a native app more practical. On this occasion, the app would look exactly the same both on iOS as well as Android. This may create problems since the UX guidelines are different for each ecosystem.

    When should we choose HMAD?

    • When we are targeting multiple platforms.
    • When the frameworks cover phone-specific functionality.
    • When the developer has a limited skill set.

    When should we not choose HMAD?

    • When the framework does not possess certain native functionality.
    • The best experience across every platform is desired

    When choosing between hybrid, native and responsive mobile app development, we have to consider the following –

    • Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each platform.
    • Assess which one is the priority – the right tool or speed to market.
    • Perhaps most importantly, we have to understand the market we are trying to cater to. Otherwise, we will be wasting our resources on functionality that we do not need and thus fall behind our customers.

    For example, HMAD offers a lot of features but is not necessarily the right approach especially if we do not need the features. If we are in need of basic interaction with the application, responsive design is the right choice. Since we can build a mobile support without the need for a separate app, this leads to cost savings.

    If we are trying to cover only one ecosystem and want top performance, NMAD is the way to go.

    It is always best to observe the market that we are trying to penetrate before we can freeze upon the right platform to use.

  • 10 Tips for Cracking Off-Campus Interview

    10 Tips for Cracking Off-Campus Interview

    “In any interview, you do say more or less than you mean”. -John Hoyer Updike

    The above quote by the eminent Pulitzer award winner is a testimonial of how things go haywire during an interview. Even the most eligible candidates falter in their off-campus interviews. Job interviews or off-campus interviews instill fear among job aspirants because of the cut-throat competition. According to statistics, an average job opening fetches an approximate 250 resumes and only 2 percent of job applicants receive a job interview call. So, follow some simple tipsfor cracking off-campus interview. Here, we go!

    Before the interview

    Go for a company research

    Gather some information about the company beforehand. In a digital age, it is not that tough to find relevant information over the web. One of your resources could be the company website to know about its products and services. Check various message boards where former employees share their experience. All these information could give you an advantage over other candidates.

    For example, an interviewer may ask you to explain that why he or she should hire you. In such a scenario, use the company information to explain how you have ample work experience with the kind of products or services offered by the company. Remember, a large percentage of HR professionals screen applicants by using multiple social networking sites.

    Try to understand the job profile

    An interviewer will take a note of you if he or she found that you have applied after understanding the job responsibilities, and not out of desperation to get a job. So, try to understand the job profile thoroughly and try to figure out how you can fit in that role in a justified manner.

    Overcome your fear

    “Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them”-Rabindranath Tagore

    During an interview, most candidates fumble while giving their answers due to fear of rejection. Man is a social animal. So, fear of rejection from others is well understood, but survival in a cut-throat competitive world demands courage. Practice regularly in front of a mirror. Under any circumstances, fear should not limit your success.

    Wear a neat formal dress with minimal makeup

    “Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs.”-Daniel Kahneman.

    The quote by an eminent Israeli-American psychologist clearly states the importance of the first impression which is often based on the way of dressing.

    While men can stick to gray colored jacket and pants or a navy blue blazer, women can wear a saree, salwar-suit or any formal dress with an appropriate neckline.

    However, attire can be casual too with minimal makeup if the job interview is for a start-up company.

    Carry relevant documents

    Imagine you arrive to face a job interview and suddenly you realize that an additional copy of your resume is not with you! You would start panicking. So, keep all the relevant documents in a folder beforehand. Some of the relevant documents could be the following ones:

    • 3-4 copies of your updated CV
    • 3-4 Copies of your passport size photograph
    • A copy of PAN/Aadhar Card
    • A pen and a notepad
    • Educational certificates
    • Experience letter
    • Internship certificates
    • Recommendation letters
    • Any additional certifications

    Among all the above documents, the last four are not mandatory if you don’t have any previous work experience whether as an intern or an employee.

    Be punctual

    When you arrive late for a job interview, it conveys that you don’t value time. So, try to reach the venue at least 10-15 minutes before your interview schedule.

    During the interview

    Switch off your phone

    It is true that cell phones have now become indispensable. Use your phone to inquire about job openings or to give an interview confirmation, but never use it during an interview. Even when you are waiting in the reception area for your turn, refrain from answering any call or sending messages. Instead, switch off your phone the moment you enter the company premises.

    Be an effective listener

    Give your profound attention to the interviewer. Answer only after fully understanding the question. Also, do not interrupt because it sends a signal that you are rude or disrespectful.

    Maintain the right body language

    You may have answered every question and have the right qualification for the job profile, but still, rejection may not be far away. The reason could be an inappropriate body language. Yes, HR professionals are very quick to pick non-verbal clues. So, don’t do the following things while attending an interview.

    • Excessive nodding
    • Crossing your arms
    • Chopping or pointing motion
    • Breaking eye contact
    • Leaning back
    • Fidgeting
    • Keeping your hands in the pocket
    • Distracted eye movement
    • Staring

    Believe or not, 60 % of our communication is non-verbal. So, stay alert!

    Don’t argue

    One of the biggest mistakes that any job seeker could make during an interview is to argue with the interviewer. Such a thing happens when the job seeker has more experience or expertise than the demand of the job profile. So, even if your interviewer raises some concern, do not disapprove them immediately, but inquire more about the job requirements to explain that you are indeed the right candidate for the job. Remember, concerns may not be related to your expertise but about salary, industry mismatch, and more.

    Conclude on a positive note

    Lastly, shake hand with an interviewer and say thanks for the nice meeting. An interview should always conclude on a positive note in spite of any hiccups in between.

    After the interview

    Write a follow-up email

    For millions of job seekers, composing and sending a follow-up mail is not vital toassure success in a job interview. However, they are wrong. HR professionals screen several candidates in a single day. Sending a thoughtful follow-up mail is a great way to remind him or her about your candidature.

    Cracking an off-campus interview is not a herculean task. So, best of luck for a stellar interview.

  • 10 Most Useful Skills for Employability of Engineering Students

    10 Most Useful Skills for Employability of Engineering Students

    Congratulations! You Have Won a Battle. But There’s Still One More To Go.

    Preparing for the engineering exams and passing them with flying colours is indeed a battle-like experience for the students. They burn the midnight oil for months to fare outstandingly well in their exams. But right after the grueling session even before they get over the exhaustion of the exam preparations, they feel the pressure of finding a job in a company of their choice.

    To make this process less painful and more successful it is necessary for engineering students to develop the following set of skills. A student with these skills will be a more favorable choice for the employers than someone without them.

    The following points are helpful for acquiring a job easily in the competitive market.

    1) Good Grades: It is the highlight of your resume. Good scores always give you an edge over your peers or other candidates. It is the age of smart devices and smart technology. So why not apply smartness even in studying methods? Visual learning is comparatively less time consuming and helps in greater retention power. Audio-video learning has more impact on a student mind than traditional way of studying from books. There are many e-learning apps available which can easily help you to cover the endless syllabus in much lesser time. However, remember that you choose your visual learning options wisely, depending upon their authenticity or correctness of information.

    2) Self Assessment: In order to check your flaws it is necessary to detect them. So, identify your weaknesses and strengths too. Work on your weak points and even harder on your strengths which can overshadow your flaws. While facing an interview, the interviewers love to ask, “Introduce yourself”. Be smart to point out the qualities that set you apart from others. Take this opportunity to impress them and bag the job.

    3) Knowledge of the Basic Concepts: The foundation of any subject depends on its fundamental concepts. And if they are not clear or known to you, the interviewers will doubt your knowledge in the subject. So before it’s too late brush up the basic concepts of your specialization and convince the employers that you follow the correct approach of learning.

    4) Self Confidence: Being under-confident is as bad as being overconfident. Keep a check on your confidence level. If you lack it, tell yourself that you are unique in your own way, focus on the positive sides and practice talking to yourself in the mirror and also with other people who are not so familiar to you. Motivate yourself everyday and keep negativity at bay.

    5) Practical Experience: Theoretical knowledge is not enough to impress employers. If there is a choice between someone who has attended seminars, participated in workshops, done internships or part-time jobs on weekends and you who has only good scores to flash in the resume, be least assured that the former candidate will bag the job. So to avoid such disappointing decisions by the employers equip yourself with a practical training or a project or an invention. Add a spark to your resume.

    6) Updated Technical Knowledge: Technologies keep pace with time and keep changing. So you too must. Be an avid reader of blogs, journals, magazines, articles and anything you can lay your hands or eyes on. Apart from gathering latest information on your area of specialization, read other interdisciplinary articles as well. A well read candidate is always more preferable.

    7) Soft Skills: A student’s life is poles apart from a professional’s life. You may be geared with all knowledge, good grades but to thrive in an office ambiance among other professionals, some soft skills are mandatory. They include problem solving skills, team player qualities, adaptive and positive nature, leadership skills, time management skills and flexibility. To facilitate growth prospects the effort must be focused on teamwork and healthy work environment. There are many soft skills development programs offered by private institutes. Join any of them to strengthen the professional personality in you.

    8) Communication Skills: A high percentage of engineering students get lost or trapped in the labyrinth of words. To express yourself and explain what you are capable of you need words. To convince the employer of your worth you need words. But what if words fail you? Improve your writing and spoken english skills by talking regularly in english with someone who knows the language well, watching english movies and serials, reading newspapers and stories.

    9) Network Development: It is the social networking age, so create your network. Keep in touch with your batch mates, seniors and professors to receive news on employment opportunities. Also create accounts in LinkedIn site to get updates on recent job openings and for an exposure to the companies’ important people.

    10) Know Where & How to Apply: Lastly you must know which job portals are the most searched by companies. Create your profiles in the leading job portals and update your resume there. Keep checking for job openings in the websites of your dream companies. Make sure you have entered the correct e-mail id and contact number in your resume for the employers to reach you.

    Keep your calm and believe in yourself. Securing a job isn’t difficult if you have the will to succeed. Best of luck for your career.

  • IT Sector Jobs In India In 2018

    IT Sector Jobs In India In 2018

    Hiring freezes and layoffs are expected to continue in India in 2018. Having said that, all hope is not lost.

    In spite of the fact that the IT sector laid off more than 56,000 people in 2017, there is still very high demand for people skilled in new technologies. This is because jobs in domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data and machine learning have exploded in demand.

    In 2018, the IT industry is expected to add somewhere between 180,000 to 200,000 new jobs in these new domains. These openings will be in both large global conglomerates as well as startups.

    Data is expected to become very big in 2018. The cloud platform in collaboration with technologies such as AI, security, the blockchain, data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) and cognitive intelligence will take the business world by storm. Organisations that are looking to stay ahead of the competition will invest heavily in these technologies.

    Below, we discuss some of the domains that are expected to spur maximum job growth in 2018 –

    AI

    Whether it is a large MNC such as Infosys or TCS or a nascent startup, nearly all tech companies are expected to invest heavily in AI. AI is the technology that enables a machine to learn from experience and then perform tasks like human beings. TCS, India’s largest IT firm, has trained more than 200,000 employees in IoT and AI.

    Businesses all over are aggressively pursuing this technology. In December of 2017, Flipkart announced its AI initiative through which it plans to use its ten years’ worth of data to find solutions that will help its business grow. As per its announcement, it will invest millions of dollars in this project.

    Myntra, the fashion portal that is owned by Flipkart, has developed an AI platform named Rapid. It performs functions such as improving manufacturing processes and designing clothes. Transportation company Ola has plans to use AI in order to enhance customer experience.

    Companies that plan to invest in AI will have to employ professionals who are skilled in machine learning which comprises of getting computers to perform human-like tasks, natural language processing which uses computation to analyze human languages and deep learning which analyses unstructured data.

    Blockchain Specialists

    What with the popularity of bitcoin exploding globally, this domain is expected to create a lot of jobs. Indian investors are investing heavily in cryptocurrencies. This is causing a lot of legal experts to call for regulations. With the need for regulations, there will be need of professionals who understand the technology.

    Digital Marketing

    Companies big and small are adopting digital technologies across functions such as communications, HR, warehousing, manufacturing, and operations. Similarly, marketing is no longer restricted to the conventional channels but has forayed into the digital medium as well.

    The technological disruptions that are happening globally coupled with the strong emphasis on everything digital by the Indian government have had its effect on the Indian labor market. As more and more companies try to establish their digital footprint, there is bound to be a surge in the demand for digital marketing professionals.

    Data Science

    Some internet companies in our country have been around for some time and they have amassed a huge amount of data on their consumers. These companies now plan to use this data to their advantage to find solutions that will greatly enhance the value of their business. For example, Swiggy plans to mine the data it has gathered about its consumers to make its deliveries far more efficient.

    Other new areas of expertise such as pharmacy analytics which is a combination of analytics and healthcare are also expected to produce demand for data scientists.

    An experienced data scientist who has just a few years under his or her belt is expected to be in high demand in the job market. Even freshers are expected to get better opportunities than a typical java trained engineer.

    Right now, data scientists, data analytics jobs, and machine learning are among the most sought-after profiles on online job searches in India.

    Engineering students who have basic coding knowledge will find it tough in the present job market to get offers. Instead, HR experts are of the firm belief that in order to improve upon one’s employability, engineering students should get themselves Master Degrees.

    Since most of the curricula taught at engineering colleges tend to be outdated, industry experts are of the opinion that in order to make up for this deficiency, students have to give emphasis to hands-on experience in the outside world over and above classroom theoretical coaching.

    All said and done, students who manage to get through the top 100 or 200 colleges of our country will not face a lot of difficulties finding a job in this competitive market. However, in order for their offers to be lucrative, they will have to develop skills in new technologies.

  • What Is The Difference Between UX And UI Design?

    What Is The Difference Between UX And UI Design?

    Today, UX designers are facing a dilemma. Employers expect them to possess UI skills as well. With every passing day, the demand is growing. According to some surveys, 66% of all UX jobs listed also ask for UI skills. Whether it be a small start-up or a large multinational company, the trend remains the same.

    So, it is quite clear that possessing proficient knowledge on both the domains gives an individual enviable edge when it comes to the job market.

    UX is not UI

    User experience design or UX tries to address the needs and requirements of a client. Once the requirement has been frozen, a workable framework is drawn to address the issue. This framework is then tested. Once both the value proposition and the business model has been validated, the product is built.

    User Interface Design may be looked upon as the combination of visual and interaction design. Visual design may be likened to the personality of a site – its look and feel. It is the very essence of the brand. Interaction design is the way people will interact with the site. For instance, when someone clicks on a button at the site, does it modify itself so as to make the user know that the click has been successful?

    Both UI and UX designers design interactions. The UX designers look at the holistic picture. The UI designers take care of the details.

    A UX designer is in charge of designing user flows. For example, what are the steps that a visitor will take to sign up for a newsletter? How will they know if they have been successful in signing up for the letter?

    Once the design is complete, it is then given to the UI designer. The latter accentuates the simplistic design of the UX designer to embellish it with colorful clues and colors to make it very easy for the visitor to navigate into successfully signing up for the newsletter.

    What is User Experience Design?

    User Experience Design (UED or UXD) is the process of enhancing loyalty and customer satisfaction by improving the pleasure, usability, and ease of use between the product and the customer.

    User Experience Design includes all interactions between a company and a customer. The use of this term since the very beginning has been almost completely within the digital field. One of the major reasons why this is so being because the industry began to explode at around the time this term was invented. Another important reason why this term became so popular is that it is synonymous with market research.

    Having said that, UX is not the same as Market Research. They merely adopt similar techniques in their execution – the optimisation, analysis, and structure of a company’s products and its interaction with the customer.

    The UX role is a part project manager, part designer, and part marketer. It is a multifaceted, challenging and complex role. In the end, the intention is to connect the user’s requirements with the business goals through a process of refinement and testing that lives up to the expectations of both sides of a partnership.

    UX design is the process of improvement and development of good interaction between the company and the user. It is responsible for the processes of prototyping, research, content, development, and testing. In theory, UX design is non-digital but it is primarily used in the digital industry.

    User experience deals with sociology, great products, people and cognitive science.

    What is UI Design?

    User Interface Design is the interactivity and presentation of the product. This profession is often interpreted in terms of graphic design, branding design, and front-end development. Its descriptions are similar to User Experience design as they often use similar structural techniques.

    UI design is a challenging and multi-faceted role. It is responsible for a product’s development, layout, content, and research transforming into a responsive, attractive and guiding experience for users. It is a purely digital profession.

    The UI designer’s role is interactive and visual. The responsibility of the implementation of the design lies with the developer.

    UI designers are responsible for the transfer of a brand’s assets online to create a better user experience. It visually guides a user through a product’s interface. It is a purely digital field.

    Difference between UI and UX

    It is important to know the difference between UI and UX even though UI is an integral part of the design. As an example, let us consider a website that does movie reviews. Even if the UI of the website is perfect, the UX of users will not be good if they are searching for an independent movie made on a small budget but the website only harbors information on big-budget movies made by large studios.

    Another good example is Google. It has a very simple UI. Its UI comprises of a logo, a search results page, a few buttons and a search bar. However, when we type something into the search box, we instantly gain access to an abundance of human knowledge at our fingertips in less than a second. If however, instead of delivering what we are looking for within a second, Google took more than 15 seconds to come up with the results, our UX with Google would be substantially poorer.

    User v Product

    UX design is concerned with anything that solves a problem within the user’s journey. UI design is concerned with how a product looks and feels online. UI is only a part of the journey. A very apt analogy that very correctly describes the difference between UI and UX is the restaurant analogy. UI is the utensils, table, glass, plate, and chair. UX includes the food, music, service, lighting, and parking.

    Concept v tangible design

    People often mistake the definition of a UI and UX designer. A layperson might think that if one designs the UI and people experience a product through the UI then that makes the UI designer also a UX professional. This is flawed logic. It is comparable to saying that individuals who design their own homes are architects and people who mend the taps at their homes are plumbers.

    The term UX designer refers to a set of skills that have been honed within the industry over a period of 20 years. A UX designer is responsible for the conceptual part of the design process. The UI designer is responsible for the tangible elements.

    A UX designer is skilled in strategy, interaction design, information architecture and research. The UI designer is skilled in interaction design, brand, motion design and information design.

    Design v experience

    User experience design is about the complete experience which may or may not have anything to do with the screen. UI design is about information design and visual design around screens.

    UX refers to any touch point that a customer or a user has with a system whether digital or otherwise.

  • Digital Marketing Skills That Are In High Demand Right Now

    Digital Marketing Skills That Are In High Demand Right Now

    Digital Marketing or Tech based skills continue to have a very high demand in the marketplace. With the limited number of professionals operating in this domain, their market value seems to be increasing with every passing day. This is because businesses are constantly on the lookout to adopt new technologies and stay ahead of the competition.

    Companies who intend to stay profitable in 2018 will continue to demand digital and tech professionals for themselves. To avail themselves of the best talent in the industry, they will not shy away from paying top dollars in return.

    SEO

    As far as digital Marketing skills go, SEO is at the top of the list. This is because SEO is not merely the practice of making the websites reflect in search queries.

    Owing to the fact that Google constantly keeps tweaking its search algorithm, SEO practices are constantly evolving. White hat marketing techniques such as guest blogging and content marketing are assuming paramount importance inside the marketing strategy of any good organization. These tools, in turn, are of critical importance to SEO success.

    Due to the immense importance associated with a good SEO strategy, companies no longer look at SEO experts as a luxury.

    Instead, a competent SEO team is now part and parcel of any good marketing team.

    Companies realize that they need to constantly stay up to date with the latest developments in the SEO world. Over and above taking care of the technical aspect of SEO, they also need people who will be able to add value to the lives of the customers.

    While SEO knowledge will always keep a professional in high demand with lucrative offers, it should be noted that SEO is not easy. This is because it is an extremely dynamic field which is constantly changing to keep up with the ever-changing practices of the Google algorithm.

    Technical Knowhow

    Marketing technologies have witnessed a phenomenal growth this decade. From this, it is clear that the future belongs to tech-based automated solutions. Today, the martech world is filled with players such as HubSpot, SharePoint, Marketo, Sitecore, Eloqua, Salesforce and Pardot. These players boost effectiveness, integrate automation and improve the efficiency of the business needs of their clients.

    In order to take effective advantage of these tools, we need to first assess which parameters we are trying to gauge. This will help us in determining how to best utilize the marketing tools at our disposal to drive the revenue top line of our business. Demand for martech professionals has led to a vast range of new job titles across organizations. These include Marketing Automation Specialists, Demandware Consultants, Eloqua Architects, Marketo Specialists and Martech Business Analysts etc.

    Video Marketing

    Video content marketers are in very high demand when it comes to digital marketing. This is because video content is exploding in popularity with every passing day. Good videos are the key to engaging and enriching the experience of any visitor to the site and thereby hopefully convert them into a paying customer. Probably the biggest reason why video is surging in popularity is that it is much easier to engage with rather than a blog post. Hence, digital marketers with the skill set of video content marketing under their belts are very high in demand.

    PPC Executive

    PPC or Pay Per Click experts are in very high demand right now. PPC denotes the activity of bringing in traffic that is targeted onto a website. In its simplest term, PPC is trying to get a company’s website the highest paid ranking possible in search queries. PPC requires huge competition and high budget. To excel at PPC, one needs to be exceptionally skilled at strategic skills and maths. One needs to be well versed in both Google AdWords as well as Google Analytics. PPC experts need to effectively be able to report, optimize and create campaigns that add value to the company’s top line. The main aim of any successful PPC campaign is to get the maximum number of visitors to a website at the lowest cost possible.

    People learn about PPC marketing a number of ways. They can take digital Marketing courses on Google AdWords and Analytics. They can watch Live Chats and PPC Webinars. They can also read blogs such as PPC Hero, PPC Chat, Search Engine Watch and Inside Ad words etc.

    Social Media Marketing

    Social Media is a powerful tool in the modern marketing world. The rate of growth of social media platforms have been faster than the internet in the past decade and there is no reason to believe it will slow down. As much as a third of the global population today uses some form of social media platform.

    With such exponential popularity among target customers, it should come as no surprise that companies are trying to capitalize on this amazing opportunity. However, it is easier said than done. The daunting task of effectively leveraging social media to one’s advantage gives skilled professionals an edge when it comes to their demand in the marketplace.

    Simply put, social media is hardly putting mere content on Facebook. Each platform needs to be approached in a different way. This takes skill. In order to properly leverage each social platform properly for one’s business, one needs to understand the specific platform in question in and out. This means knowing which parts of the day to post in order to garner the maximum amount of attention, which type of content gets the most response across each platform and where inside each platform does the target customer hang out.

    Once we have mastered the basics of social media marketing, it is time then to leverage paid marketing on social media. In order to do so, one needs to develop an understanding of visual marketing, copywriting, analytics and color psychology.

    Mastering social media marketing is no easy task. This is one of the reasons why competent social media experts are in such high demand in the industry. Experts who are able to justify ROI to their clients on Social Media rake in the big bucks in return.

    UX Designing

    User Experience or UX is more than just about design. It is about tracking the behavior of a customer. UX tries to study, understand and then manipulate the behavior of target customers on the site in order to persuade them into going through with a purchase.

    For any company to substantiate its top line through its online presence, it is critical that it understands the behaviors of its customers properly. Otherwise, even the best online marketing strategy will not be able to deliver the expected traction. UX experts are adept at understanding the subtleties of customer behavior and thereby deliver design templates and interface that lead to higher lead generation, more customer retention and sales increase.

    Community Management

    People always want to identify with a community. One of the most important skills that a digital marketer can possess is to cultivate a positive community on behalf of the brand. The best place to build a community is on social media. However, merely updating Facebook Posts on a page every once in a while, will not tantamount to building a community.

    In order to develop a viable community on behalf of any brand, a digital marketer has to grow and maintain long-term relationships with the clients. A good digital marketer will gain insights into every customer in order to gauge how best to communicate with them.

    Content Writing

    Probably the most in-demand skill right now in the field of digital marketing is that of a content manager. This is amply demonstrated by the importance of every new Google Update. No good digital marketing manager would ever underestimate the need for a good content manager in order to woo the customers.

    For individuals to become good content marketing professionals, they need to have an understanding of Digital Marketing. They have to deliver content that that helps in lead generation, increases brand loyalty and engagement.

    Of late, there has been an increased demand in the role of competent content managers. Of course, as mentioned above, this would require the development of certain skills.